A two-week trial has been set for Nathan A. Chavez, a 30-year-old Sequim man charged with raping four girls.
Chavez pleaded not guilty Feb. 17 to nine counts of child rape and molestation for alleged crimes against children between the ages of 11-16.
His trial is scheduled to begin April 10 in Clallam County Superior Court.
The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office said Chavez lived with two of the children when the crimes occurred.
Chavez allegedly provided alcohol to the other victims at parties, drove them to remote locations and raped them inside of his truck, according to the affidavit for probable cause.
The Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Chavez with five counts of third-degree child rape, two counts of second-degree child rape and single counts of first-degree child rape and third-degree child molestation.
Chavez was arrested without incident Feb. 3 in Sequim.
Two counts of third-degree child rape were added to Chavez’s case Feb. 10 after the fourth girl disclosed the alleged crimes to a Clallam County sheriff’s investigator.
Chavez is being held in the Clallam County jail on $250,000 bail.
Clallam County Superior Court Judge Erik Rohrer signed Friday post-arraignment sexual assault protection orders preventing Chavez from having contact with each of the alleged victims.
Bail motion denied
Rohrer also denied a defense motion to lower Chavez’s bail.
Defense attorney Stan Myers filed Friday a motion to use up to $5,000 in public funds to retain a private investigator to assist in the case.
A pretrial status conference is set for March 10.
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Rob Ollikainen is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
